Stotra · Shiva

Lingashtakam

Lingashtakam is a hymn of eight verses (ashtakam) in praise of the Shiva linga. Every verse ends with the refrain “tat praṇamāmi sadāśiva liṅgam” — “I bow to that linga of the eternal Shiva.”

When to recite: Sung during Shiva puja and abhishekam, on Mondays, during the month of Shravana and on Maha Shivaratri.

Verses

1. ब्रह्ममुरारिसुरार्चितलिङ्गं
   निर्मलभासितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
   जन्मजदुःखविनाशकलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥१॥

   brahmamurārisurārcitaliṅgaṃ
   nirmalabhāsitaśobhitaliṅgam |
   janmajaduḥkhavināśakaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 1 ||

   The linga worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and the gods, shining with pure radiance, which destroys the sorrow born of birth — to that linga of the eternal Shiva I bow.

2. देवमुनिप्रवरार्चितलिङ्गं
   कामदहं करुणाकरलिङ्गम् ।
   रावणदर्पविनाशनलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥२॥

   devamunipravarārcitaliṅgaṃ
   kāmadahaṃ karuṇākaraliṅgam |
   rāvaṇadarpavināśanaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 2 ||

   Worshipped by gods and the greatest sages, the burner of desire, the source of compassion, the humbler of Ravana’s pride — to that linga I bow.

3. सर्वसुगन्धिसुलेपितलिङ्गं
   बुद्धिविवर्धनकारणलिङ्गम् ।
   सिद्धसुरासुरवन्दितलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥३॥

   sarvasugandhisulepitaliṅgaṃ
   buddhivivardhanakāraṇaliṅgam |
   siddhasurāsuravanditaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 3 ||

   Anointed with every fragrance, the cause of growing wisdom, revered by siddhas, gods and asuras — to that linga I bow.

4. कनकमहामणिभूषितलिङ्गं
   फणिपतिवेष्टितशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
   दक्षसुयज्ञविनाशनलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥४॥

   kanakamahāmaṇibhūṣitaliṅgaṃ
   phaṇipativeṣṭitaśobhitaliṅgam |
   dakṣasuyajñavināśanaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 4 ||

   Adorned with gold and great gems, beautiful with the king of serpents coiled around it, the destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice — to that linga I bow.

5. कुङ्कुमचन्दनलेपितलिङ्गं
   पङ्कजहारसुशोभितलिङ्गम् ।
   सञ्चितपापविनाशनलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥५॥

   kuṅkumacandanalepitaliṅgaṃ
   paṅkajahārasuśobhitaliṅgam |
   sañcitapāpavināśanaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 5 ||

   Anointed with kumkum and sandal paste, lovely with garlands of lotuses, the destroyer of accumulated sins — to that linga I bow.

6. देवगणार्चितसेवितलिङ्गं
   भावैर्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम् ।
   दिनकरकोटिप्रभाकरलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥६॥

   devagaṇārcitasevitaliṅgaṃ
   bhāvairbhaktibhireva ca liṅgam |
   dinakarakoṭiprabhākaraliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 6 ||

   Worshipped and served by hosts of gods with feeling and devotion, radiant as ten million suns — to that linga I bow.

7. अष्टदलोपरिवेष्टितलिङ्गं
   सर्वसमुद्भवकारणलिङ्गम् ।
   अष्टदरिद्रविनाशितलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥७॥

   aṣṭadalopariveṣṭitaliṅgaṃ
   sarvasamudbhavakāraṇaliṅgam |
   aṣṭadaridravināśitaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 7 ||

   Encircled by an eight-petalled lotus, the cause of all creation, the destroyer of the eight kinds of poverty — to that linga I bow.

8. सुरगुरुसुरवरपूजितलिङ्गं
   सुरवनपुष्पसदार्चितलिङ्गम् ।
   परात्परं परमात्मकलिङ्गं
   तत्प्रणमामि सदाशिवलिङ्गम् ॥८॥

   suragurusuravarapūjitaliṅgaṃ
   suravanapuṣpasadārcitaliṅgam |
   parātparaṃ paramātmakaliṅgaṃ
   tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam || 8 ||

   Worshipped by the teacher of the gods and the best of the gods, ever honoured with flowers from the celestial gardens, higher than the highest, the Supreme Self — to that linga I bow.

Phalashruti (benefit of recitation)

1. लिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।
   शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥

   liṅgāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau |
   śivalokamavāpnoti śivena saha modate ||

   Whoever recites this sacred Lingashtakam in the presence of Shiva attains Shiva’s realm and rejoices with Shiva.